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Best webcams in 2024

We've tried and tested the best webcams that will improve the quality of your stream and Zoom calls

Best webcams - three top webcams for streaming and gaming on a pink background

The best webcams can give you a huge boost in image quality compared to the built-in offerings found on your laptop. Cams from brands like Elgato, Razer, and Logitech will offer high resolution and frame rates, but budget options from lesser-known manufacturers may serve you better if you don’t need 4K resolution.

Pro streamers often use a mirrorless camera for the best image quality and low-light performance. But for most users and gamers, a webcam with 1080p video capture at 60 frames per second will be enough – not to mention significantly cheaper. Some webcams even support HDR, but the only streaming service that currently supports high-dynamic range is YouTube Gaming.

Why you can trust our advice ✔ At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.

Razer Kiyo Pro

Best all-rounder

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Razer Kiyo Pro specifications:
Resolution 1080p
Frame rate 60fps
Sensor Starvis CMOS
Field of view 80-130°
Focus type Auto
Microphone Omnidirectional
Reasons to buy
  • Great HD video at 60fps
  • Fantastic low-light performance
  • HDR looks wonderful
Reasons to avoid
  • Expensive

We’ve picked the Razer Kiyo Pro as the best webcam because it’s a fantastic all-rounder, with uncompressed 1080p video capture at a buttery-smooth 60 frames per second. It supports HDR too, provided you don’t mind the frame rate shifting down to 30fps. Instead of the built-in ring light on the base version, the Kiyo Pro boasts an upgraded sensor that can handle harsh and dim lighting conditions.

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra also uses the large 1/1.2-inch Sony Starvis CMOS sensor, which is excellent in low light. The camera also offers 3D noise reduction via the Razer Synapse app. The field of view is set to a wide 103° by default, but you can turn this down as low as 80° via Razer’s Synapse software.

If you’ve forgotten to pack your favorite gaming headset, the Razer Kiyo Pro can double up as a microphone with omnidirectional chops. For those concerned about privacy also rest easy, as it comes with a detachable cap for when you’re done showing off your face to your fans, friends, or colleagues.

Elgato Facecam Pro

Best streaming webcam overall

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Elgato Facecam Pro specifications:
Resolution 1080p
Frame rate 60fps
Sensor Starvis CMOS
Field of view 24-83°
Focus type Auto
Microphone None
Reasons to buy
  • High quality, 4K/60fps capture
  • Mirrorless-like tuning experience
  • Great optional software
Reasons to avoid
  • Lacks integrated microphone
  • No privacy filter

Elgato Facecam Pro was the company’s premium dedicated streaming webcam. It’s a good choice if you’re looking to stream on Twitch or YouTube, or you just want incredibly sharp video calls. You get 4K 60fps to offer smooth footage, and although there’s no built-in mic, if you’re getting a camera at this price point you’re probably serious enough to get a separate microphone anyway.

It’s a big piece of hardware with a relatively chunky build. But if you want something to stay in place for a static gaming setup, it’s a quality choice worth the higher price tag. You can fine-tune the focus, exposure, and white balance to get the best picture of your setup, but the automatic settings work well straight out of the box. The Facecam Pro is backed by the versatile Camera Hub software, for customizing basic settings on the fly like FOV and contrast but gives you the means to tinker with white balance, shutter speed, and ISO. While it’s not quite as good as the Razer Kiyo Pro in certain lighting conditions, when paired with an Elgato Key Light it quickly ascends to best-in-class territory.

Read our Elgato Facecam Pro review.

Logitech C920 HD Pro

Best webcam under $100

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Logitech C920 HD Pro specifications:
Resolution 1080p/720p
Frame rate 30fps
Sensor 3MP
Field of view 78°
Focus type Auto
Microphone Stereo
Reasons to buy
  • Affordable
  • Decent HD video quality
  • Reliable autofocus
Reasons to avoid
  • Tinny microphone
  • Low frame rate

The Logitech C920 HD Pro has been around for years, but it’s still a fantastic budget webcam. If we’re honest, it doesn’t excel in any one area, and it’s not packed with the latest audio and visual tech. But it does balance price and performance, making it a great all-rounder.

The HD Pro’s design is subtle, and bar-shaped, with LED lights to indicate when the camera and microphone are on. It doesn’t come with a lens cover, but you could pick up a cheap one online (or make your own).

Logitech’s software makes it easy to tweak the focus, brightness, and contrast of your picture. The frame rates max at 30fps, and the resolution is only 1080p rather than 4K like the Brio below, but for the price, the image and audio quality of the C920 HD Pro are still hard to beat.

Read our Logitech C920 HD Pro review.

Elgato Facecam MK.2

Best 1080p streaming webcam

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Elgato Facecam MK.2 specifications:
Quality 1080p/60fps, 1080p/30fps, 720p/60fps, 720p/30fps, 540p/60fps, 540p/30fps
Sensor Sony Starvis CMOS
Field of view 84°
Focus range 30-120cm
Microphone Stereo
Connection USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Type-C
Weight 90g (without mount)
Reasons to buy
  • 1080p 60fps native quality is crystal clear
  • Overall design is a big improvement over MK.1
  • Camera Hub is great for customizing image quality
Reasons to avoid
  • Feels like a Facecam Pro ‘lite’ rather than a new innovation
  • Max 1080p resolution
  • Quality comes at a high cost
If you’re serious about streaming, but aren’t yet ready to invest fully into 4K, the Elgato Facecam MK.2 is a great platform, while anyone upgrading from older 720p or 30fps webcams will also see a substantial improvement. It’s enough of an upgrade from the first Elgato Facecam, but not quite a competitor for the Facecam Pro.
An improved design with a built-in privacy shutter allows peace of mind when the camera isn’t being used. Rear-facing vents allow for appropriate cooling, making long sessions with no slowdown or stuttering a reality.
The Elgato Camera Hub also gets an upgrade to ensure it keeps up with the Facecam MK.2, and you can spend hours tweaking your image quality, adjusting the high dynamic range, and even creating videos at 120fps. Built-in automatic settings are present for those who want a great image without adjusting sliders, but be wary that there is no lighting on the Facecam MK.2 if your PC finds itself in poor lighting conditions.
For $149.99, you can find webcams that boast some of the features Elgato is offering in the Facecam MK.2, but rarely will you find a complete product that beats it on quality and value. The lack of 4K is a restriction if you want to stream seriously, but 1080p and 60fps will be enough for many.
Read our Elgato Facecam MK.2 review.

OBSBOT Tiny 4K

Best webcam for conferencing

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OBSBOT Tiny 4K specifications:
Resolution 4K
Frame rate 30fps
Sensor 24.3 MP CMOS
Field of view N/A
Focus type Auto
Microphone Mono
Reasons to buy
  • Auto face and body tracking
  • Gesture controls
Reasons to avoid
  • Not Windows Hello compatible

There are plenty of webcams out there that include face and body tracking as a core part of their features, but most rely on software gimmicks that make panning a little sluggish.

The OBSBOT Tiny 4K has a built-in gimbal and AI to physically turn its head, meaning you never miss a beat as you wander around the room or shuffle in your gaming chair. The software is intuitive with three customisable presets so you can always return it to its original position. It has a timer when it’s not in use that makes it automatically look downwards to preserve your privacy.

You don’t necessarily want to open up the software mid-presentation or mid-stream to make a point, and that’s where gestures come in handy. There’s a learning curve that might make you feel a little silly waving your hand next to your face as you figure out what gesture does what, but zooming in and out to emphasize a point is so much easier. At the sacrifice of Windows Hello, which would have been a nice addition, we’ve never been able to position our lens so perfectly without sticking a webcam on a tripod.

How to choose the best webcam

If you want a new webcam, think about what you’ll use it for and how much you want to spend. The cheapest options are likely to be better than your machine’s built-in camera, but won’t offer 4K resolution or any tracking features. 60fps is the standard frame rate for most models, but if you want the movement to be more fluid, look at 90fps and above.

If you already have one of the best gaming microphones, you won’t need a webcam that has an integrated one. On the flip side, a webcam with a mic means you won’t have to buy one separately.